Photo by its_al_dente. Valencia, a city full of charm and personality, also at the table is affected by its being a little Andalusian, a little Catalan. Its culinary tradition starts from afar and has a main ingredient par excellence: rice , not only to use it for the famous Valencian paella , but also with cuttlefish ink, with fish, with chicken and for many other versions of dishes from unique and intense taste. Knowing Valencian history means knowing its gastronomic habits that can only be discovered by sitting down at a Spanish table. Between paella and other specialties, here are 10 things to eat absolutely in Valencia .
1 – Paella
Photo by its_al_dente. It is no secret that paella is the cornerstone of Valencian cuisine . Although today it can be found in any Spanish restaurant, the real paella was born in this city . A dish rich in ingredients, in addition to rice there is also room for chicken, rabbit, beans, fish, vegetables. Everything that gives it a multi-ethnic flavor and character .
- Recommended for : lunch and dinner
- Average cost : €18.00
- Main ingredients : rice, chicken, rabbit, beans, fish, vegetables
2 – Fideua
Photo by chandlervid85. Another traditional dish , consists of fideo , a small spaghetti . Similar to paella, with the only difference that instead of rice, spaghetti is used. Fideua is prepared with meat or vegetables, although the most popular with Valencians and tourists from all over the world is the seafood one . After all, as we know, the sea and its products are always the most loved in the localities that live on these elements.
- Recommended for : lunch and dinner
- Average cost : €17.00
- Main ingredients : spaghetti, vegetables, meat, seafood
3 – Patatas Bravas
Photo of DalaiFood. Patatas Bravas are tasty, fried prepared with spicy mayonnaise sauce. Needless to hide it … one leads to another, in fact they are one of the most popular specialties as a side dish, but above all as a tasty snack at aperitif time. It’s hard to find a place or a tapas bar that doesn’t offer them on its menu.
- Recommended for : appetizer, aperitif, side dish
- Average cost : €5.00
- Main ingredients : potatoes, mayonnaise
4 – Tapas
Photo of Racool_studio. An important part of Spanish gastronomic culture, tapas do not represent a specific dish, but a variety of typical sweet and savory preparations that are mainly consumed as appetizers and for aperitifs . They are probably one of the most popular recipes by both locals and tourists, which is why they are offered in all places.
- Recommended for : aperitif
- Average cost : €5.00
- Main ingredients : meat, fish, vegetables
5 – All y Pebre
In two words garlic and eels . All y pebre, stewed eel with potatoes, is a traditional recipe, precisely a sort of stew that comes from the island of El Palmar. Tasty and perfect even for the most demanding palates, it is made up of garlic, eels, chilli and potatoes (one of the inevitable products on Spanish tables).
- Recommended for : lunch and dinner
- Average cost : €10.00
- Main ingredients : garlic, eels, chilli and potatoes
6 – Arroz Negro
Photo of hamonsemenovich. Very similar to our squid ink rice , arroz negro is one of the most popular specialties and versions of rice for both Valencians and tourists who never miss an opportunity to order one of these dishes on their travels. Cooked in different variations and present in the menus of these all the restaurants in Valencia, those who love tradition and those that every day offer novelties and variations of the typical gastronomy.
- Recommended for : lunch and dinner
- Average cost : €15.00
- Main ingredients : rice, cuttlefish
7 – Mona de Pascua
Photo by user12688291. Round cake typical of the Spanish tradition, prepared for the Easter holidays , as can be clearly understood from her name. There are two versions : the traditional one which is covered with hard-boiled eggs and a more recent one which involves replacing hard-boiled eggs with chocolate eggs and a layer of apricot jam in the donut. The term mona derives from the Arabic and means gift.
- Recommended for : dessert, snack
- Average cost : €7.00
- Main ingredients : hard boiled eggs, chocolate eggs
8 – Arnadi
Photo of Joanbanjo. Typical dessert and probably the most famous of Valencia , Arnadi has a name of Arabic origin. It looks like a homemade pie, decorated with almonds or sugar and made with pumpkin, sweet potatoes, pine nuts and cinnamon. Its flavor is particular and tasty, which is why it is one of the specialties to be tasted absolutely.
- Recommended for : snack, snack, dessert at the end of a meal
- Average cost : €5.00
- Main ingredients : pumpkin, sweet potatoes, pine nuts and cinnamon
9 – Bunyols
Photo of Racool_studio. Very similar to our pancakes , the Bunyols, are typical specialties that are eaten during the feasts of the Fallas. They are prepared with flour, water, yeast and, often, pumpkin. Usually the perfect combination is the one between bunyols and hot chocolate in the cup. Specialty that appeals to Valencians and tourists.
- Recommended for : dessert, snack, snack
- Average cost : €7.00
- Main ingredients : flour, water, yeast, pumpkin
10 – Clochinas al Vapor
Photo by lunamarina. As a perfect Spanish city, Valencia also uses sea products in its typical dishes , the steamed clochinas (our mussels) are part of the Valencian tradition. Prepared very simply with garlic, olive oil and vinegar, once ready to be consumed they are served with their broth. It is one of the Spanish specialties par excellence.
- Recommended for : lunch and dinner
- Average cost : €10.00
- Main ingredients : clochinas, garlic, vinegared olive oil
Where to eat: best restaurants, typical bars and street food
Valencia has an incredible gastronomic tradition thanks to its enviable position: a lush plain behind it, the rice fields and of course the sea.
Here you cannot miss the paella , in real Valencian places served only for lunch, a dish based on rice, chicken, rabbit and vegetables, but there is also the fish variant. A tip is to order it in advance when you book, so you don’t have to wait for cooking (45 minutes). Rice is king in many different dishes, with arroz, and of course tapas, served in many places.
Inside the Ciutat Viella you can find numerous typical restaurants anda particular eye to the markets , where paella is cooked throughout the day.
1 – Canela restaurant
- Description : typical restaurant serving paella near the Torres de Quart
- Specialty : paella and fideua
- Average price : from € 18.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
2 – Egg Ristorante
- Description : original place with egg-based dishes, it combines tradition and modernity even in the furnishings
- Specialties : fried breaded egg with squid stew
- Average price : from € 20.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
3 – Sandwich Tapas
- Description : nice and informal place to eat excellent tapas and have a drink
- Specialty : pan chapata with pork belly
- Average price : from € 5.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
4 – Flor de Valencia Restaurant
- Description : restaurant that combines gourmet cuisine and a refined environment with typical dishes, near the Parc Gulliver
- Specialty : paella senyoret with seafood
- Average price : from € 25.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page
5 – Ristorante The Home Tavern
- Description : cozy and informal restaurant in the Botero district that offers fish dishes in particular
- Specialty : fried fish pescado
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : Get directions – Facebook page